Cincinnati vs. The World 3.21.12

Ohio Sen. Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville) proposed new
legislation to prevent new ownership of exotic pets such as gorillas and
lions to prevent incidents like the one in Eastern Ohio when dozens of
neglected animals were shot to death after their owner set them free and
committed suicide. CINCINNATI +1

Students at Dunkerton High School in Dunkerton, Ia. were
shocked when a special assembly featuring a musical performance went
sour. Bradlee Dean, drummer for the performing band Junkyard Prophet,
took the microphone after his band left the stage and launched into
rants against abortion and sex before marriage then made homophobic
remarks about Lady Gaga and Elton John. WORLD -1

The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the region’s largest
business advocacy group, announced its 2012 Policy Agenda in which it
supports the repeal of Cincinnati’s Environmental Justice Ordinance.

The
law requires new or expanding industrial facilities to get an
Environmental Justice (EJ) Permit before operation, which signifies
their operations won’t cause health problems in surrounding communities. CINCINNATI -2

Experts at the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit in
Chicago announced that up to 50 percent of food in the world goes
uneaten; Americans throw away an average of 33 pounds of food per month,
according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.WORLD -2

According to a new report from Stateintegrity.org, Ohio’s
government doesn’t fare too well when it comes to governmental
transparency and integrity. The Buckeye State ranked 34th out of 50
states and earned a “D” on the “Corruption Risk Report Card.” CINCINNATI -2

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich went to a Colorado
prison last Thursday to begin serving his 14-year sentence for a
corruption conviction. WORLD +1